When Libby, a 5-year-old pit bull, arrived at The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, no one could ignore her sweet personality—or the massive tumor on her front leg. The tumor, which was roughly the size of a volleyball, was the largest the shelter staff had ever seen.
The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County
The team fell in love with Libby almost immediately despite her condition. A spokesperson from the shelter recalled, "When we laid eyes on Libby, the first thing we noticed was her sweet face and kind eyes. The second thing we noticed was the volleyball-size mass on her shoulder."
An examination confirmed their worst fears. "There was a massive tumor in the bone of her upper right leg, causing reactive inflammation that swelled her leg to the size of a volleyball and made her almost immobile with pain," the shelter reported.
Libby was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bone cancer.
A Life-Saving Surgery
The only way to save Libby’s life was to amputate her leg. This decision wasn’t taken lightly, but the shelter knew it was her best chance of survival.
With help from donors in the community, the shelter raised the necessary funds for Libby’s surgery. The expert medical team at Blue Pearl Veterinary Partners successfully removed the 10-pound mass and her right leg. Their efforts gave Libby a new shot at life.
"During recovery, her loving and kind spirit shone brightly," the shelter noted. Despite losing her leg, Libby proved just how strong and resilient she was.
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A Forever Home, Filled With Love
As Libby recovered from her surgery, she made a lasting impression on one of the veterinary technicians who cared for her. The vet tech was so moved by Libby’s spirit that they decided to adopt her, even after learning that Libby’s cancer was aggressive and her time may be limited.
"After witnessing Libby’s loving spirit firsthand, what happened next came as no surprise," shared the shelter staff. "A veterinary technician immediately fell in love and decided to adopt sweet Libby—even after learning of her diagnosis."
Libby has since been renamed Wiggles, fitting her joyful and playful nature. Her new family says she loves playing with her other canine siblings, spending time with her human family, and snuggling up on the couch under warm blankets.
"There’s something in her eyes that begs for love and safety," her new mom shared with the shelter. "I couldn’t turn away from that."
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A Shelter Fighting For Hope
Although Libby’s story has a happy ending, the shelter handles many heartbreaking cases every day. As Washington State’s largest-intake animal shelter, they’ve witnessed some of the worst cases of abuse and neglect imaginable.
"Each day, more pets arrive than the last, filling our kennels and stretching our resources to the limit," the shelter shared.
For now, Libby—now Wiggles—is a symbol of hope and survival. Despite her challenges, she’s living the rest of her days exactly how every dog should: surrounded by love, warmth, and care.
If you’d like to help pets like Wiggles, you can visit the shelter’s website and you can also scroll through their adoptable dogs to find your own new best friend.
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